The Top Threats to Your Parent’s Health as They Age

When you are looking after your parents or your parents are getting older, it is important to recognize the top threats to their health and how you can help them to cope with these. This article will cover top threats to your parent’s health as they age and what you, as their child, can do to help them combat these and stay well for longer.

Lack of Independence

One of the main challenges to your parent’s health as they age is their gradual lack of independence and autonomy. If they are unable to look after themselves, they are at greater risk of falls and of situations where they could potentially come to harm. Not only this, but they may start to be unable to manage their medical conditions, such as forgetting to take the necessary medications. If this is the case, you should find senior communities that suit their needs and can allow them to be looked after and live out their old age in a welcoming and safe environment.

Access to Doctor’s Appointments

Although it is paramount that your loved ones are able to go to the doctor’s surgery and to get medical attention whenever they need it, access to doctor’s appointments is often limited for elderly people. This could be because they lack transportation options or live in a rural area where they cannot get the care they need. Then, you should make an effort to help them get the attention they deserve by driving them to the appointments in question and book medical services when they are in pain or worried about their symptoms.

Their Home

Your parent’s home should be a safe place where they can be happy and secure. However, there are also many risks for aging parents in the home, including stairs, uneven flooring, and their garden. These can cause trips and falls. Then, you should make sure that their home is adapted to their needs, that they have an alarm with them, and that they can move if they feel uncomfortable in their family home.

Common Risk Factors

When you get older, you are at higher risk of getting common health problems such as a stroke, a respiratory illness, or heart disease. However, many of these conditions are caused by common risk factors that your parents may have, such as being overweight, having high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. If this is the case, you should encourage your parents to live a healthy lifestyle and stay active, and attend regular screening appointments at their local surgery.

Mental Health Issues

Mental health issues are extremely prevalent in elderly people, especially conditions such as depression and anxiety. A lot of these conditions stem from loneliness and grief over the loss of a partner. When your parents become depressed or anxious, they can often stop having to drive to live, and their immune systems can often become weaker. Then, you should try to spot the symptoms of mental health issues in seniors, keep them occupied and engaged in life by visiting them often and by helping them to find social groups in their area.